Epic sends along news of a new tool release for Unreal Tournament 2004
modification authors:

As part of Epicís commitment to providing
outstanding support and features for mod authors using Unreal Tournament 2004 as
a mod platform, Epic integrated a licensed version of the Impersonator speech
and facial animation tool from OC3 Entertainment (
http://www.oc3ent.com/home.htm ),
making it easy for mod authors to create realistic and emotive talking
characters. Impersonator support is integrated directly into the UT2004 game
editor, UnrealEd, once UT2004 is patched to version 3204. Epic Games and OC3
Entertainment are today releasing tools, samples, and documentation for
Impersonator, available at
http://unreal.epicgames.com/files/UT2004ImpersonatorPack.zip ."

Epic second fiddle to Valve? How in the world would you justify that statement?

By my count, Epic has actually shipped *3 AAA title games* since Valves last one that they're STILL relying on for revenue.

Don't get me wrong, I thought HL1 was a great game 'n all, and I'm sure that HL2 will be great too, but I hardly think that releasing a good game every 6 or 7 years makes everyone else who's actually out there shipping product year after year (like Epic and id) "second fiddle."

Well, Valve has done quite a bit towards the community too. They released patches and updates and new maps for HL for several years after it was released.

I suspect part of the reason that Epic is trying so hard is that they're trying to get gamers in the habit of buying a new version of UT every year. If supporting the community and releasing updates every few months means a significant percentage of your customers will "renew their subscription" at the end of the year, then it makes good business sense.

I'm surprised Epic hasn't taken a page from Quickens playbook, and put "upgrade coupons" in the game that are good for $5 or $10 off next years version. I know they offered a rebate with the cover from the manual, or whatever, but who hangs on to that?

I'm sprawled across the davenport of despair.

It's the land of the brave, and the home of the free, where the less you know the better off you'll be.

Epic is second fiddle, but I figure they're doing more work than Valve towards the community.

Epic is a much larger company then Valve. They have pumped out more games, and their engine has been liscensed for other games more then Valve's Source. When it comes to community involvement, Valve plays second fiddle to Epic, IMO.

Anyone else notice how hard Epic is working in spite of being second fiddle to Valve?

Maybe I'm stepping across the wrong line (line nonetheless) but if you consider their style differences, I'm really comparing apples and oranges.

But I digress, for I am debating the view from a business point.

Point being: Epic is second fiddle, but I figure they're doing more work than Valve towards the community.I can't quite understand why that is... though I suspect it has largely to do with people's preferences in terms of style. That being that Valve's is superior in the mind's eye to Epic.

Those 2 onslaught levels released for Windows XP only as a promotion by msft/atari

Ahhh, I see. Already got those the day they came out. I have downloaded Red Orchestra, but have not had the time to check it out. Will try it out this weekend. Hope there are some servers out there to play in.

Modworks at BU is a cool idea and all, but its also a joke in certain ways, the highest rated mod for UT2004 is ActionUT, and thats not even released yet... Also, some fanboys tend to vote 1 for every mod thats not their favourite. So unless the voters become registered and obvious spammers are deleted, just ignore the rankings on the mods..